GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The proposals should investigate at different levels (animal, herd, farm and sector, region) and with a coherent approach, practices and innovations that enable a reduction of the net GHG emissions by terrestrial livestock, while striving to ensure farm viability and resilience of productions systems, including adaption to climate change, and taking into account the impact on the environment and biodiversity.Τhe proposals should address the potential socio-economic impact of the proposed practices and innovations, and look at options to facilitate their uptake. Proposals should take into account novel farming systems and future scenarios, different breeds, particularly local breeds, various management approaches, climatic conditions and regional specificities. Proposals should address at least cattle and pigs and may address any other relevant species.

At animal level, the research should use systems biology to study interactions between host and environment (e.g. feed and microbes) and how this interplay affects the efficiency of feed utilisation (energy and proteins) and GHG emissions, not least methane. At farm level, different husbandry practices should be addressed. At sector/regional level, a system approach should investigate how different actors can cooperate to improve the GHG balance of livestock production, optimising the use of resources, including feed, improving circularity.